one mindanao - june 5, 2012

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESEDITORIAL BOARDWestern Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0908-8843404E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]: www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA WesMin Info Bliz

Northern MindanaoGraces’ Building, Antonio Luna StreetCagayan de Oro City 9000Telefax No. (08822) 72-66-83Telephone no. (088) 856-8178 / 729-594Cellphone no. 0928-5204305 0917-3084969E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]: www.pia-10.blogspot.com

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)2/F Kanto Motors Bldg.,Quimpo Blvd., New MatinaDavao City 8000Telephone no. (082) 297-0991 / 301-8580Telefax no. (082) 297-0992 / 304-2044Cellphone no. 0917-7053606 / 0918-9202950E-mail: [email protected]

Central Mindanao (SOCCSKSARGEN) Provincial Capitol Compound Bautista Bldg., Zulueta St.Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506Telephone no. (083) 520-0249Telefax no. (083) 228-9736 / 228-9739 / 520-0100Cellphone no. 0921-6873373 / 0928-5204307E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Bldg.,J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285 / 360-1239Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: [email protected] , [email protected],phBlogspot: www.piacaraga.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA Caraga Updates, PIA Agusan del Norte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur

Executive Editor …….. EFREN F. ELBANBUENA Cluster Head, Southern, Western and Central Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Region XI

Managing Editor …….. ABNER M. CAGA Cluster Head, Northern and Northeastern Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Caraga Region Officer-in-charge,PIARegionX

Associate Editors …… NOEMI B. EDAGA Regional Director, PIA Region IX

OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII

Regional Desk Editors Jocelyn P. Alvarez, PIA Region IX Elaine O. Ratunil, PIA Region X Rudolph Ian G. Alama, PIA Region XI Danny E. Doguiles, PIA Region XII Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region

Copy Editors Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region Nora C. Lanuza Molde, PIA Caraga Region

Layout Artists ……… Victoriano B. Villacruz, Jr., PIA Region IX Zener R. Dumaguing, PIA Region X

Senior Layout Artists Gerie Mae G. Coco, PIA Caraga Region Richard D. Atillo, PIA Caraga Region

Editorial Advisers :

ATTY. JOSE A. FABIADirector-General

Philippine Information Agency

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMAPresidentialCommunicationsOperationsOffice

Cover Story

White Peak Climb 2012 DiaryI dared climb the toughest mountain in southern Mindanao

Albert DayaoSouthern Mindanao

Today’s issue...

Tuesday, June 5, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 272

page 4

Dani Doguiles, Central Mindanao

Gov’t budgets P87.1 million for PNoy’s visits to London, Washington D.C.10Registration ng mga OFWs para sa 2012 Migrant Workers Day, nagpapatuloy17Central Mindanao

18 Maguindanao at North Cotabato, binabantayan dahil sa posibleng pagbaha

23David M. Suyao, Caraga Region

Energization of far-flung barangays continues

Michael Vincent D. Cajulao, Western Mindanao

PDEA-Caraga intensifies partnership with stakeholders24Dengue cases in Zambo City reach 1,000 with 14 deaths28Vanessa M. Gorra, Northern Mindanao

31 Xavier Ecoville holds blessing, “padugo” of permanent site

32 Rolando M. Mahusay, Northern Mindanao

DOLE-10 advances greening program in Mis.Occ

MinDA holds ‘Mindanao Economy and Environment Summit’ in Davao City 35

Robert E. Roperos, Caraga Region

Carina L. Cayon, Southern Mindanao

8 12

14

19

21

25

29

33

4 Tuesday, June 5, 2012ONE MINDANAO

I have never climbed mountains before.

Cover StoryWhite Peak Climb 2012 DiaryI dared climb the toughest mountain in southern Mindanao

Call me naïve for joining the regular summer climb of Mt. Pagdadagsaan, better known as White Peak, of New Bataan, Compostela Valley on May 17-21, 2012. I was. I had not known that White Peak is the toughest mountain in southern Mindanao. I learned of this only later from an internet blog of Albert Gabriel, president of the Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao based in Davao del Sur. Engr. Gabriel and his team had made an all-male technical and documentation climb to White Peak two years ago. I have no reason to doubt his impression of White Peak which, at 2,670 metres above sea level, is the highest mountain of Compostela Valley, the third in Mindanao, and the thirteenth in the Philippines. Since I am a cameraman, I was part of the technical team composed of trail sweepers, pacers, lead packers, and, of

course the ubiquitous porters that

climbers cannot do without. My job was to photo-document the arduous climb and the wildlife along the trail. I did not know how arduous it was and how cruel would the mountain be to first-timers like me. The 46 climbers from Cagayan de Oro City, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, and Davao City included four young women. All were dressed in regular colourful mountaineering fashion. They arrived on May 17, lugging along their backpacks that were near to bursting with things necessary for their survival in the wilds. The registration fee was P500 per

by Albert

Tuesday, June 5, 2012 ONE MINDANAO 5

cl imber to cover their food,

accommodation, and other services before and after the climb. Several shelled out additional P300 for a porter, a daily fee to carry the climber’s heavy load through the treacherous ascent.

Ready to rumble So there I was at the municipal hall of New Bataan, along with more than 60 climbers and technical people at 5:30 in the morning of May 18, a Thursday, as we began the almost one-hour drive for P75 each passenger on skylab to the official jump-off point at Campo Uno in the village of Andap. My first tastes of the hardship awaiting were the huge boulders strewn generously along the ascending trail as the skylabs that transported us and the motorbikes that carried some of the adventurers parried the road obstacles. Behind me, I heard one of the girls describe the rocking and rolling as more difficult than the actual climb. The grueling trip ended 45 minutes later. We’re at Campo Uno!

Friday, May 18, 7:00 a.m. -6:00 p.m. Minutes later and still barely able to breathe normally, we moved on – this time to Station 1 through the dead and dry river bed that stretches 1.2 kilometres toward the base of the mountain we hoped to conquer. Strips of orange and red cloths guided us so we won’t get lost. The orange colored strip means one is following the right direction. You‘re following a dead trail

if you’d see the red cloth. By that time, it was drizzling as we trudged on evading huge boulders, sloshing on mud while ahead loomed the majestic deep green façade of the mountain. The darkening skies began pelting us with continuous thick rain pellets. From the river trail we pulled ourselves to face the ominous path leading to our target and rest. Tired, we moved on into the heart of the woodlands and faced a menacing world of thick roots and gnarled trees. Impassable is not a fitting description, it’s more like creeping and slithering under low-stooping trees and climbing over slippery exposed giant roots, pushing away hanging bristled rattan vines, clutching at weeds and long grasses for traction, and struggling up, up, through the sponge-coated trunks and limbs of the mountain’s mossy forest. Waxing philosophical, I asked myself,” Why am I here, at all?” As I looked at my climbing companions struggling with their labored breathing, I realized I had no answer and wondered if they also shared my search for answers.


I was soaked to the skin. My backpack was the heaviest load I had ever carried in my life. Then from somewhere my eyes rested on a beautiful flower. Its sight soothed my weary body. I saw more wildflowers whose names I do not know and whose wonders I had not appreciated before. From somewhere an armoured caterpillar fell off a twig; I picked it up and settled the light creature on a small leaf. Finally just before twilight, we reached Camp 1. In the mountains darkness comes early. The dark skies and heavy rain reinforced it.

The lead packers immediately unfolded huge canvasses for shelter. Beneath the temporary canopy, tents rose here, there, and everywhere. A few huddled together for a few sips of kulafu to ward off the freezing cold. We ate our separate dinner with the head lamps and flashlights we brought with us.

Saturday, May 19, 2:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

It was still raining when I woke up 2:00 in the morning to prepare coffee and breakfast. Thanks God! The rain stopped at 4:30 a.m. as we were getting off for the sojourn to the first peak and then on to the third highest peak in Mindanao. “Wala na’y balusay,” one of the veteran climbers said in half jest. I was puzzled by its ominous meaning. But he was serious. And we first-timers

learned soon enough that there would be no comforting space to pause for even a small breath on the steep climb to the peak unlike what we passed through when we could take a breather or two on some tiny precarious mountainside glade. By six o’clock that morning, we were again negotiating the seemingly endless labyrinth of mossy tree trunks, contorted branches, and knotted limbs of the cloud forest alongside exposed giant roots that dominate the slope. And then there were the leeches that ambushed us although only a few showed up to put


the fear of God into our hearts. Just when I thought the agonizing battle with the mossy creatures inside the forest was over, another ordeal, the final countdown, stared us in the face in the form of a sharply sloping mountain wall accessible only by rappelling to ascend the very difficult sharp incline and zigzagging unbroken trail some 80 feet above us. It was a trying experience to ascend the very narrow and steep grassy trail and difficult rope tracks - facing the mountain wall, shuddering at the deep cliffs, and gazing at the landscape before us. One by one, we dragged ourselves up the peak. It was early afternoon. We pitched tents, hang our wet clothes and gears. We rested. We savoured the taste of victory. We surmounted the challenge

and in the end became better persons.

Sunday, May 20, 4:00 a.m.

Everything is freezing cold. But it’s time to leave. I was naïve then. Not anymore.


ACROSS THE NATION

President Aquino, who is set to arrive here in UK at around 9 p.m. Monday (London time), will have a photoshoot with London-based DOT/DFA officials handling the “It‘s More Fun in the Philippines” program as part of his busy schedule here. His

visit to London is his first to the UK and Europe since he assumed office in 2010.

The President will be accompanied by eight Cabinet officials and several Filipino businessmen who will look into enhancing reciprocal

investment, trade and tourism opportunities between the Philippines and UK.

According to DOT, the country’s tourism campaign has been warmly welcomed in the UK. It said London has thrown its full support for

Tourism’s ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’ campaign gets warm welcome in London

President Benigno S. Aquino III will promote the Philippines as a top tourist destination through the Department of Tourism’s “It’s more fun in the Philippines” campaign

during his official visit here in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.


t h e Ph i l ipp ines ’ tourism build up by donning its iconic double-decker

buses, taxi cabs and

underground stations with the different faces of the Philippines.

“Now, 25 double-decker buses and 50 black cabs sporting a uniform design of the slogan, logo, and different faces of the Philippines are now spotted around the bustling streets of London (while) images of the world-famous Ifugao Rice Terraces and the Puerto Princesa Underground River, both proclaimed as World Heritage Sites, are also found at the subway stations,” the DOT said.

The Philippine DOT is the very first national tourism organization to advertise through the digital platform of taxis owned by Verifone Media. The London cabs come

w i t h a 30-minute digital ad which features the 30-seconder “It’s more fun in the Philippines” T V C ( t e l e v i s i o n commercial) and the 15-seconder tarsier TVC recently launched worldwide via CNN.

Media hype through the London cabs will continue to run until early next year, with the opportunity to capture the millions of visitors and household viewers of the Queen’s Jubilee, the London 2012 Olympics, and the season 2012-2013 of the Fulham Football Club of the English Premier League.

“The world will now start to see that ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ is not just a bunch of words on a streamer. It is a competitive argument for choosing the Philippines as one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Philippine tourism is poised to surge forward as we launch more aggressive initiatives to reinvigorate

the industry and work towards achieving our 10M target by 2016,” Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said.

During his official visit here, President Aquino will have a series of business meetings with top British investors such as Rolls Royce and Cebu Pacific, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Gas Project, Shell and Nestle, among others.

President Aquino will have an opportunity to meet with His Royal Highness the Duke of York Prince Andrew at the Buckingham Palace. He will also have a separate meeting Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s government will also offer a lunch for the President to be presided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Jeremy Browne and the Lord Mayor of London Alderman David Wootton at the Lancaster House.


Gov’t budgets P87.1 million for PNoy’s visits to London, Washington D.C.

The government is spending P87.1 million for President Benigno

S. Aquino III’s official trips to the United Kingdom and the United States, where he will hold bilateral meetings with leaders of the two superpowers, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Monday.

President Aquino left Monday afternoon for London via a chartered Philippine Airlines flight along with an 89-mem-ber delegation as official guest of the UK from June 4 to 6.

After his trip to the UK, the Chief Executive’s first to Britain since he became President in 2010, he will proceed to the US for a working visit from June 6 to 8 on the invitation of President Barack Obama.

President Aquino leads the Philippine delegation that also includes Foreign Secretary Albert Del Ro-sario, Transportation and Communications Secre-tary Manuel Roxas II, Fi-nance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Defense Sec-retary Voltaire Gazmin, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Toursim Sec-retary Ramon Jimenez, Energy Secretary Rene Almendras and PCDSPO Secretary Ramon Caran-

dang.Philippine Ambassador

to Washington D.C. Jose Cuisia Jr., Philippine Am-bassador to London En-rique Manalo and Presi-dential Protocol Chief and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Miguel Perez-Rubio are also in-cluded in the presidential entourage.

The expenses cover accommodation, tele-communications, trans-portation, food and equip-


Gov’t budgets P87.1 million for PNoy’s visits to London, Washington D.C.

ment, among others, for the President and

his official party.The Depart-

ment of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said President

Aquino will hold a bilat-eral meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss the Philippines-UK political and econom-ic cooperation, Britain’s participation in the Inter-national Contact Group (ICG) for the peace pro-cess, anti-corruption and good governance practic-es of both countries, and other regional and inter-national concerns.

The DFA also said the President will likewise meet with several major British investors, take part in the Philippine fun tour-ism campaign and dialog with the Filipino commu-nity in the UK, which is the largest in Europe.

From the UK, President Aquino will fly to Wash-ington D.C. for a one-on-

one meeting with Presi-dent Obama at the Oval Office, their fourth since 2010.

On top of the agenda of the two leaders is dis-cussion on a broad range of bilateral, regional and global issues that reflect the multifaceted nature of the two countries’ stra-tegic partnership.

The DFA said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will host a luncheon in honor of President Aqui-no and his delegation at the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room of the State Department in the US capital.

The President is also scheduled to meet with leaders of the US Senate

at a reception organized by Senate President Pro Tempore Daniel K. Inouye on Capitol Hill and will be guest honor at the launch of the US-Philippines So-ciety, a private sector ini-tiative designed to boost economic ties, promote trade and investment, support common strate-gic and political goals, and strengthen cultural, technological, education-al and people-to-people linkages, the DFA said.

Before heading home to Manila, President Aqui-no will stop by Los Ange-les to meet with the Filipi-no-American community, which represents about 3.1 percent of the city’s population.


Studies consortium urged to address Mindanao’s critical research needs

Sixteen members of the Mindanao Studies Consortium Founda-tion Inc. (MSCFI) were exhorted by the Min-danao Development Authority (MinDA) to venture out of their institutions and build their mark in research and policy studies in

the region. “Issues in Mindanao

are integrated and call for integrated solu-tions that require lens-es from different skills and expertise. Being an institution of think-ers, planners, experts, and social architects, MSCFI can take the

lead,” MinDA Executive Director Janet Lopoz said in a message de-livered for MinDA chair Sec. Luwalhati Antoni-no.

MSCFI is a clear-inghouse of ideas, re-sources, programs and projects that help mitigate peace and

A consortium of local academicians and scholars

is urged to take on the role of a think tank that will help steer Mindanao’s journey to holistic development.


development issues in Mindanao through sci-entific and empirical researches that help define and support the region’s development needs.

Lopoz said devel-opment, industries, and social structures are evolving fast, and MSCFI members must determine if they will remain within the walls of their individual in-stitutions and research centers, or “come out and leave a legacy in Mindanao’s history”.

“We need to strength-en alliances, expand membership, and cre-ate networks and com-munities, so opportu-nities for engagement can be expanded, and knowledge is brought to critical industry play-ers, decision-makers, and policy-makers,” she added.

Lopoz made the call during a strategic planning session fa-cilitated by MinDA to help the consortium strengthen its capaci-ties as it gears up to expand its member-

ship and evolve into the Mindanao Knowledge, Research and Policy Center (MKRPC).

MKRPC will become the repository of knowl-edge on Mindanao and shall take the lead in coordinating, facilitat-ing, and disseminat-ing researches, bridg-ing theory to practice in the pursuit of peace and development ini-tiatives.

It is also envisioned to help higher educa-tion institutions pro-duce more scientists and give attention to social and political sci-ences that can help ad-dress complex social and political issues in Mindanao.

The planning activity was intended to come up with an enhanced re-search framework and harmonized Mindanao Research Agenda in re-lation to the region’s blueprint for develop-ment called Mindanao 2020, A Peace and De-velopment Framework Plan for Mindanao.

Dr. Ciel Habito of Brain Trust Inc., in his

message to the consor-tium, revealed that in the crafting of the Min-danao 2020, his team saw gaps in defining the knowledge base to support its thematic ar-eas. He said this boils down to the need for a research agenda that will later on cluster into research studies.

“What we need is practical research that can be useful and contribute to ac-tual reforms, such as identifying lack of in-frastructure to unleash a lot of economic ac-tivities,” Habito said.

He expressed hope for BTI and MSCFI to work together for possible expan-sion, networking, and strengthening of both institutions in order to respond better to the needs of Mindanao.

Prof. Ricardo de Un-gria, MSCFI Chairper-son, closed the activ-ity with a rallying call to its members to re-new their commitment to the consortium and tackle the challenges ahead.


Sarangani town eyes development of rubber industryBy Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- The coastal town of Maitum in Saran-gani province joined several municipalities across Soccsksargen Region or Region 12 pushing for the massive development of the rubber industry in the area.


Last Wednesday, May 30, the Maitum Rubber Growers Association (MARUGA) and the Sarangani Rubber Industry Cluster Development Team, in partnership with the provincial local government unit (LGU) and the municipal LGU of Maitum and the Department of Trade and Industry–Sarangani, conducted the 1st Sarangani Rubber Forum.

Among the forum’s participants were least 165 rubber growers, traders, and government representatives from the seven municipalities of Sarangani.

“Rubber development will be my banner program,” Maitum Mayor Elsie Lucille Perrett told the participants of the forum where she also inducted the first set of officers of the MARUGA.

Mayor Perrett was confident that Maitum would be one of the leaders in rubber industry in the near future.

“There is a tiger opportunity in the rubber industry that could make our economy leap to its highest plane,” Gary Lee Perret,

president of rubber growers’ association, emphasized.

Resource persons during the rubber forum were Engr. Remus Villavicencio, municipal administrator of Makilala in North Cotabato, which has rubber as the center of its development

plan; Jack Sandique, CEO of Platinum Rubber Development, Inc., one of the leading producers of natural rubber in the country; and Dr. Harem Roca, a professor of the state-run University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan, North Cotabato, a leader in


instruction, research, extension and production of several crops including rubber, and home to country’s only quality testing laboratory for natural rubber products, the Philippine Rubber Testing Center.

“If you plant a tree be sure it’s rubber,” Villavicencio told the participants.

He said that rubber development is in the center of Makilala LGU’s development agenda.

He cited two important goals of his town’s Rubber Development Project, “to address poverty in order to empower our people in their entire economic endeavor, and to help arrest the continuing degradation of the environment.”

“With this, we humbly would tell our future children of our noble piece at mitigating the effects of the present condition of climate change,” Villavicencio said.

Villavicencio said that Makilala LGU gives free rubber seedlings that allows marginal farmers to acquire planting materials.

“Soon we will claim the ‘Rubber Capital’ (tag) of

Region XII, and in the next 30 years, we are definitely certain that the rubber industry to include our neighboring municipalities and provinces and definitely Sarangani for that matter would be the leading economic activity that would capacitate our people,” Villavicencio said.

Dr. Roca presented the trends, prospects, and challenges of the rubber industry. He said that opportunities in rubber production includes growing domestic and global market demand and carbon credits.

He added, however, that there are also major challenges such as limited access to credit and financing, peace and order, and land tenure, inadequate services and infrastructure support, processing, and marketing, among other things.

Sandique shared their hands-on and practical experience on rubber propagation and development.

“I am sharing my trade secrets which I haven’t said before because I see in your faces the big interest to learn about

rubber development,” he said.

A day before the forum, the High Value Crop Development Program (HVCDP) of the Department of Agriculture-12 (DA-12) delivered 6,000 rubber seedling to recipients in Barangays Kalaong and Upo, Maitum.

DA 12 has also earlier earmarked P1 million for the establishment of rubber nursery in Maitum town.

HVCDP promotes the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of high-valued crops including rubber to increase income, create livelihood opportunity, and to contribute to national agricultural development of the Philippines.

Data from Sarangani’s Office of the Provincial Agriculturist indicates that Maitum leads the province in rubber production with at least 5,602 hectares planted to rubber.

Rubber development in Maitum was started during the term of the late Mayor George Yabes and is now being actively pursued by the administration of Mayor


Registration ng mga OFWs para sa 2012 Migrant Workers Day, nagpapatuloyLUNGSOD NG KORONADAL -- Patuloy ang panawagan ng Public Service Employment Office (PESO) sa lungsod ng Koronadal para sa mga aktibo at dating Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) na residente ng Rehiyon 12 na magpatala para sa pagdiriwang ng 2012 Migrant Workers Day na sabayang gagawin sa iba’t-ibang panig ng bansa sa Hunyo 7.

Sa Rehiyon Dose, ang isang araw na aktibidad ay gagawin sa South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cul-tural Center, ayon kay Overseas Work-ers Welfare Admin-istration (OWWA) 12 regional director Ab-dugani Umag.

Ang araw na ito ay iniaalay para sa mga bagong bayani ng bayan, ang mga OFW, dahil umano sa kanil-ang mga sakrispisyo na mapawalay sa ka-nilang mga pamilya at pati na rin sa ka-nilang malaking kon-tribusyon sa pagsig-la ng ekonomiya ng ating bansa dahil sa kanilang mga remit-tance, dadag pa ni Umag.

Araw din umano ito

ng pasasalamat sa mga OFWs at sa ka-nilang mga pamilya.

Mahigit 1,500 na mga OFW at kanilang pamilya ang inaasa-hang dadalo sa isang araw na pagdiriwang ng 2012 Migrant

Workers Day.Mayroon din

umanong gagawing raffle draw, livelihood fair, at ilang ahensiya ng pamahalaan ang magbibigay din ng kanilang serbisyo at tutugon sa mga


katanungan ng mga OFWs at mga dating nagtrabaho sa ibang bansa.

Sa araw ding ito, ma-nunumpa sa katung-kulan ang mga opisyal ng Regional Federation

of OFW na pinangun-guluhan ni Ferdinand Serile. (DED/ACA-gad-PIA 12)

Maguindanao at North Cotabato, binabantayan dahil sa posibleng pagbahaLUNGSOD NG KORONADAL -- Minamatyagan ngayon ang mga probinsya ng Maguindanao at North Cotabato sa maaring pagbaha na maganap ngayong tag-ulan.

Ang surveillance team ay pinangungunahan ng mga miyembro ng 6th Infantry Division.

Ayon kay 6th ID public affairs chief Col. Prudencio Asto, minomonitor ng iba’t-ibang mga army units ang mga ilog sa mga nasabing probinsya maging sa mga kalapit na mga lugar.

Kaugnay nito,

nakakalat na rin ang mga combatants ng 40th at 7th Infantry Battalions sa mga lugar na parating binabaha.

Dagdag pa dito, nagsagawa naman ng malawakang p a m i m i g a y impormasyon sa mga dapat gawin kapag may baha ang Department of Social Welfare and Development sa Autonomous Region

in Muslim Mindanao (DSWD-ARMM) sa unang distrito ng Maguindanao.

Matatandaang ang malakas na pag-ulan noong nakaraang linggo ay nakapagdulot ng matinding pagbaha sa ilang mga lugar sa Central Mindanao kung saan marami ang naapektuhang mga pananim at maraming mga mamamayan ang inilikas.

Ang mga probinsya ng North Cotabato at Maguindanao ay itinuturing na flashflood-prone areas dahil sa mga ilog na nakapaligid dito kagaya ng Rio Grande de Mindanao at Allah River. (SJDuerme-PIA12)


Local execs in ARMM back meaningful autonomy for BangsamoroLocal chief

executives of the five provinces of

the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) expressed their support to the meaningful autonomy that is being pursued by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as they move forward with the substantive issues on the negotiating table.

Governors Mamintal Adiong Jr. of Lanao del Sur, Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, Jum Akbar of Basilan, Abdusakur Tan of Sulu, and Sadikul Sahali of Tawi-Tawi joined the 28th GPH-MILF formal exploratory talks in Malaysia to observe the negotiation process between the two parties According to a press release by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP), the local

officials are mindful that the GPH and the MILF have embarked on the substantive agenda, such as wealth and power sharing between the national government and the envisioned new autonomous political entity (NPE) that will replace the ARMM, following the signing of the Decision Points on Principles during their last round of negotiations in April. “Our position is one. We want


meaningful autonomy under the Constitution,” said Tan. The government’s peace negotiations with the MILF are guided by the President’s directive to work within the flexibilities of the Constitution; learn from the lessons and experiences of the past administrations; deliver viable political, economic, and social commitments in a peace agreement; and the principles of transparency and inclusivity. In this view, Tan further underscored the need for a plebiscite. “We aim to uphold democracy. Even in ARMM they say democratize governance,” he added. Meanwhile, GPH peace panel chair Marvic Leonen emphasized during public consultations that the peace negotiations are conducted within the framework of the Constitution and the principle of “consent of the governed.” He explained that results of the peace talks will go through a political process (in the different branches of

government and in the national and local governments). Parallel to this, the five governors said they recognize the primacy of the peace process and the need to “accompany its political process.” Tan shared that all the five provincial governors of the current autonomous region in the south are “optimistic of the efforts of both the GPH and MILF to achieve just and lasting peace.” (OPAPP)


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Butuanon kids participate in 2012 Patik-Kulay Exhibitby Jennifer P. Gaitano

To recognize Butuanon kids for their artworks skills, Renante “Kuya Dubz” Dublois, the organizer of “Patik-Kulay”

spearheaded an art exhibition of their paintings at the Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center here.


The exhibit started May 31 and ended on June 3. Different colorful artworks using various media in painting were displayed at the lobby of said hotel. According to Dublois, the word ‘Patik’ means to draw and ‘Kulay’ means to color. “It is my calling to teach the children how to paint and let them discover themselves the talent and skills that they have,” he said. Dublois also bared that he and his group in Patik-Kulay have been doing this summer art workshop for kids for six years already at the same venue. “I thank the parents of all the participants for their continued support to Patik-Kulay and for

their efforts and time that despite financial crisis, parents still give their children the opportunity to enjoy the summer and discover their love for art,” stressed Dublois. This year’s Patik-Kulay Summer Art Workshop started May 11-26 with a registration fee

of P4,000 per participant which covers the art materials to be used during the workshop. With this, Dublois is still encouraging the parents (old and new participants) to let their kids participate during next year’s Patik-Kulay Summer Art Workshop.


Energization of far-flung barangays continuesby David M. Suyao

Government aims to have all barangays nationwide energized by 2013. This policy direction was adopted by the provincial and municipal governments inn partnership with local electric cooperatives. “This is the fifth remote barangay that we have energized, thru the subsidy of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) in cooperation with the Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative and it costs us some P1.14 million. In spite of the energy shortage that we are presently experiencing, we are doing our best to implement the President’s order so that every Agusanon will have the luxury that the electric power can give and become even more productive. We therefore believe that after we have energized this barangay, residents can extend their working hours even late at night because of the power and the help that electricity can give

them,” ASELCO Gen. Manager Engr. Emmanuel Galarce said. According to Barangay Captain Rogelio Precioso, he can imagine that every night, some residents of his barangay have to spend few kilometres walking just to watch television in the neighbouring barangays because radio and television are the only luxury multimedia appliances that people in remote areas can use to entertain them. “I am very glad that at last, our wishes years ago become a reality today. Energizing our barangay means a lot to us. From now on, we can work at home doing handicrafts products during the night while we are in the farm during day time. And while doing the handicrafts, residents can view the television to see their favourite teleserye. Therefore, this means very great to us,” Precioso said.

AGUSAN DEL SUR -- Around 50 residents in the remote barangay of Odiong in Esperanza town now enjoys electricity after it was energized on Thursday, May 31, 2012.


According to PDEA-Caraga Regional Director Joel Plaza, they have forged partnerships with local government units and non-government organizations (NGOs) to see to it that they can conduct intensified monitoring of drug-related activities in the region. The official said to intensify monitoring, there is a need for them

to coordinate and partner with different stakeholders in the region. Plaza said, reports revealed that drug supply in the region has decreased because of the convergence of both public and private stakeholders. He added they have been monitoring seaports and airports in the region to ensure that shipment

of illegal drugs will be properly monitored. According to him, they have been coordinating with port managers for this purpose. Aside from this,Plaza said bus terminal managers were also asked to coordinate for this purpose, as well as local chief executives and heads of NGOs.

PDEA-Caraga intensifies partnership with stakeholdersby Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY –- To solve drug-related incidents, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Caraga intensified its partnership with stakeholders.


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DOLE launches campaign for child labor-free barangays in Pagadian City

By Alma L. Tingcang

T o cap the celebration of the 110th Labor Month, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) launched its campaign for Child-Labor Free

barangays in the city on May 30 at Barangay Bulatoc.


With the theme, “Pagtutulungan, Pagpapalaya sa mga Batang Manggagawa,” DOLE Assistant Regional Director Virginia L. Bonbon said the battle for the elimination and prevention of child labor is going down to the grassroots level. A symbolic turn-over of work implements/tools of the trade was done in Bulatoc, considered to have

a high incidence of children at risk of becoming child laborers because of its proximity to the Integrated Bus Terminal, in exchange for an educational package containing backpacks/bags, notebooks, drawing books, ballpens, pencils, pencil case, crayons, writing pads, sharpener, eraser and other school supplies. DOLE has bolstered its implementation of the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) and targets 80 barangays with high incidence of child labor to be transformed into child labor-free barangays this year. ARD Bonbon said DOLE Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz has directed all regional directors to reactivate the Barangay Council for


the Protection of Children (BCPCs) in their areas of jurisdiction to assist them in the task. “The campaign aims to encourage, to influence change, identify the roles and solicit commitment of stakeholders; local government units particularly the barangay concerned, national government agencies, non-government organizations, private sector and parents of child laborers to help in ensuring that children are enjoying their rights and not engaged in child labor,” Mayor Samuel S. Co, ably represented by Dr. Priscilla M. Fernandez, Chairperson of the City Tourism Council in his message said. At the end of the activity, barangay officials led by Paul Ryan Teves signed a commitment to attain a child-labor free barangay by fully

committing themselves to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, protect them from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and discrimination and other conditions detrimental to their development. Also present were the PIA Regional Director Noemi B. Edaga, Education Supervisors Vivian B. Dacula and Dr. Remedios Bulahan of DepEd City Division, DOLE intermediaries; Guidance Counselors Network (GCNet) ZamPen Region President Ermah Sheila L. Roble, GCNet Pagadian City Chairperson Mary Jane B. Omandam, Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) Vice Chairman Levi E. Cabatcha, Occupational Health & Safety Committee (OHSC) President Engr. Rodrigo T. Templado, media partners and other stakeholders. (ALT-PIA9)


Dengue cases in Zambo City reach 1,000 with 14 deathsZAMBOANGA CITY – The City Health Office revealed dengue cases in the city has now reached 1,053 with 14 fatalities.

by Michael Vincent D. Cajulao

City Health Officer Dr. Rodelin Agbulos again called on the public to continue its intensified clean up drives to put a halt to the increasing number of dengue cases. “Efforts have to be doubled or tripled in order to bring down the number of cases being registered in the hospitals and clinics. We appeal to the public to continue the campaign to search and destroy breeding places of dengue and help reduce the number of dengue incidents,” Agbulos stressed. Agbulos said outbreak level remains in Zamboanga with the recent figure. He said the outbreak

declaration cannot be lifted as of the moment. He also added they deploy teams in the different barangays in the city everyday to continue with the anti-dengue campaign. Medical teams, to include doctors in the different sub-districts of the city, are also advised to intensify their monitoring activities in their area. The City Health Office is also planning to hold a Dengue Summit as part of its anti-dengue campaign. The proposed multi-sectoral activity will have series of lectures to arm the public on prevention and control of dengue fever. (MVC/PIA9-ZBST/CIO)


DepEd issues guidelines on suspension of classes by Rutchie C. Aguhob

All concerned officials and personnel of the Department of

Education (DepEd) are directed to observe the weather bulletins of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced through various media outlets, such as radio and television, regarding cancellations of classes.

This directive came from Secretary Armin A. Luistro, who issued DepEd Oder No. 43, last May 28, in compliance to the Guidelines on the Implementation of Executive Order No. 66, entitled “Prescribing Rules on the Cancellation or Suspension of Classes and Work in Government Offices Due to Typhoons, Flooding, Other Weather Disturbances and Calamities.” Such guidelines were issued to streamline the procedure on the suspension of classes and work in government offices in times of

typhoons, floods and other

disasters or calamities to spare the pupils, students, teachers, and government workers and the general public from unnecessary danger to their lives and limbs. Along with this, the Education Secretary ordered the following guidelines to be observed by all concerned regional, division and school officials of both public and private schools on the automatic


cancellation/suspension of classes: when Signal No. 1 is raised by PAGASA, public and private pre-school and kindergarten classes in the affected areas shall be automatically cancelled or suspended. When Signal No. 2 is raised by PAGASA, public and private preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and secondary classes in the affected areas shall be automatically cancelled and suspended. When Signal No. 3 is raised by PAGASA, work in all DepEd offices in the affected areas shall be automatically cancelled or suspended. Depending on the signal numbers declared at 10:00 pm. and 4:30 a.m. of the following day, classes in appropriate levels for the whole day are declared automatically suspended. Afternoon classes in the appropriate levels in areas with signal numbers declared at 11:00 a.m.

that day are likewise automatically cancelled. Teaching personnel handling cancelled or suspended classes are likewise allowed to leave their stations in consideration of the work they will need to undertake during make-up classes. In the absence of typhoon signal warning from PAGASA, localized cancellation/suspension of classes in both public and private school and work on government offices

may be implemented by the local chief executives in their capacity as chairperson of the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMC). Thus, concerned local DepEd and private school officials are directed to establish effective lines of communication with the respective local government units (LGUs). Meanwhile, Secretary Luistro said any decision to cancel or suspend classes must come from the local government, but that a school head may cancel or suspend classes only in cases where urgent action is needed to prevent loss of life or bodily harm. As stated in Sec. 2, EO 66, LGU officials are expected to announce cancellation or suspension of classes not later than 4:30 a.m. for whole day cancellation or suspension or not later than 11:00 a.m. for afternoon cancellation or suspension.


No announcement should originate from the DepEd. If interviewed by media, announcements should always be made in reference to what PAGASA has already announced in areas under a typhoon signal and to local chief executives in the absence of a typhoon signal, Secretary Luistro said. He also said that decisions on and subsequent announcement of cancellation/suspension of classes in public and private schools and work in government offices areas affected by elementary or calamities other than typhoons, such as, but not limited to floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and conflagration, shall be made by the local government as Chairperson of the LDRRMC, in coordination with

the NDRRMC through all forms of mass media available under the circumstances. Likewise, the Education Secretary said DepEd still maintains that parents have the ultimate responsibility for determining whether or not the children should go to school, even if no order for cancellation/suspension of classes has been issued, if they feel that travelling to or from schools will place their children at risk. Parents are then advised to check from media advisories in times of typhoons, floods disasters, calamities and other weather disturbances coming from PAGASA, National DRRMC, Regional DRRMC, Local DRRMC, or the Office of the President itself, Secretary Luistro added.

Xavier Ecoville holds blessing, “padugo” of permanent site by Vanessa M. Gorra/


Among the attendees were Xavier University President Fr. Roberto Yap SJ, HFHP Regional Program Manager Leonilo Escalada, and Lumbia Barangay Captain Wilhem Valencia. Workers from HFHP, composed of some Xavier Ecoville partner beneficiaries who were hired for the project, led the padugo ritual. Fr. Yap blessed the land after which the

stakeholders shoveled cement into the foundation of the first house to be built. Eduardo Tangonan III, leader of Xavier Ecoville’s Physical Development Team led the closing prayer. The occasion ended with a boodle fight, which consisted among others of meat from the padugo ritual. (XU)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Xavier Ecoville with Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) had its ground blessing and “padugo” ritual for the permanent site last June 2, a day after completing the transfer of more than 500 households to its temporary shelters in Barangay Lumbia for tropical storm Sendong survivors.

DOLE-10 advances greening program in Mis.Occby Rolando M. Mahusay

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Northern Mindanao, through its provincial office in Misamis Occidental, recently conducted a tree growing activity at Barangay Bunga in Oroquieta City.

Jose G. Robles, DOLE provincial head, said 45 participants coming from the DOLE Misamis Occidental Provincial Office, Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of Oroquieta City, and beneficiaries of the department’s Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) have planted 160 acacia seedlings along the riverbank of Layawan River in the said barangay. He said the tree-growing activity was in line with the department’s Green our DoLE Program (GODP) which aims to transform DOLE workplaces and project sites into cleaner, safer, and carbon-free environment.

DOLE officials envision a happy and healthy workforce through the project, he further said. According to him, Barangay Bunga is the pilot area for the “adopt-a-barangay tree growing project,” while the area along Layawan River was identified by the local government as one of the watershed of Oroquieta City. He said the area will be regularly monitored to ensure 100 percent survival of the acacia seedlings.( DoLE-10)


The City can become the world’s largest I.T. (Information Technol-ogy) park if it can build needed in-frastructures says ICT Davao Pres-ident Bert Barriga said as Davao City is likely to entice new IT busi-nesses in locating to the City. Guesting at Kapehan sa SM Media Forum at Café Rhysus SM-City Davao yesterday (June 4) Barriga said that unlike Manila and Cebu where IT locators are converging in a single area, Davao City is so large and the

urban ecosystems spread out. He said rather than grouping the locators in a single area, they can put it in the eastern, western, southern, northern, central areas in the city. Barriga said if they can put in the needed infrastructure in the different parts of Davao City, it can be the largest IT park in the world. Among the needed infrastructure include steady, seamless broadband interconnectivity, accesssiblity and adequate security. As for security, Barriga said that

despite Davao being considered as one of the peaceful cities in the country they still have to contend with Mindanao’s image problem. Echoing the potentials of the City, Barriga said that many IT investors are looking in at Davao, he bared that last week alone, four investors, two Americans and two Australians have visited his office to inquire about investing in the City. Barriga added that the city will be needing 3,000-5,000 call center

Davao City can be world’s largest IT park-ICT Davao


workers in the next two months and at least two major call center companies are looking into putting up their call centers in Davao. Also he added that in the field of software development, they had locators interested in working with local programmers. The City has two IT parks being developed one is the Abreeza Technohub of Abreeza Mall which is a 7-storey building housing Business Process Outsourcing companies.

Then there is the soon-to-open SM-Lanang mall with BPO spaces encompassing about 11,000 square meters for locators, which had visiting businessmen in awe. “If you build it, they will come, if you won’t build it, they won’t come.” Barriga said describing the need for building infrastructures to lure in more investors rather than just waiting for them before building the needed systems. (PIA/RG Alama)

regional gallery

Philippines’ AirAsia, the country’s newest low cost carrier, recently kicked off its nation-wide roadshow in Davao City over the weekend by offering 20% discount on all-in fares for its domestic and select regional routes. Photo (3rd from left) AirAsia Inc. CEO Maan Hontiveros with Mary Ann Montemayor of Small Hotels Association, Eden Larano-David of Davao DOT, basketball players from AirAsia Philippine Patriots and the airlines red hot cabin crew at the opening ceremonies.


MinDA holds ‘Mindanao Economy and Environment Summit’ in Davao CityDAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority is holding today until tomorrow (June 5) the Mindanao Economy and Environment Summit in the city aiming to raise the level of awareness of Mindanawons on the importance of river basins in the quest for food security and sustainable development. The Summit being undertaken at the Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City, also intends to provide venue for the various stakeholders in the island to discuss and act as one in conserving biodiversity for a balanced ecosystem. MinDA Chair Luwalhati R. Antonino said the Summit, carrying the theme “Building Constituency towards a Green Economy,” is a platform under the Mindanao Nurturing Our Waters (MindaNOW) Program of MinDA that aims to gather stakeholders for creating champions, and building constituency. MindaNOW also takes this move to adapt change in responding to the challenge of ensuring food on the table without compromising the carrying capacity of the environment by

caring for the waters in Mindanao, Antonino stated. She said that another goal for holding the Summit is to strengthen coordination and active participation of various stakeholders through a convergence effort with focus on river basin development, conservation, protection and management while taking into consideration climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction and management measures. At the Summit, participants are expected to undertake workshops and present summit declarationsMinDA is also set to launch during the event the MindaNOW website and portal which would include activities such as online registration into the portal and presentation of firmed-up projects under the MindaNOW Program. There will also be a signing of Memorandum of Understanding concerning the MindaNOW Program, and launching of the Mindanao Environment Experts Forum at the event. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)

by Carina Cayon

one mindanao - june 5, 2012

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